"He's that elusive spin option that can turn the ball and will compliment the spinners we already have to balance the side out."

Arafat is the third leading wicket-taker of all time in Twenty20 competitions, helping Sussex to the title in 2009 and was part of the side which won the County Championship Division Two in 2010.

He will arrive at The Oval in April and be available for the whole campaign. Adams is sure Arafat is the right player for the overseas role, adding: "We've chased some blockbuster names to fill this [overseas] role in recent years and it's not worked out so in Yasir we have someone who sits below that tier of player.

"He knows what's required physically as well as tactically or technically. He's a very low maintenance individual as I know from my time as his captain at Sussex."